Chapter Four

When the old man entered the basketball hall, he randomly found a chair and settled down.

Soon after, Akagi's name was called, catching his attention.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, always full of energy, half-closed his eyes and casually tossed the basketball aside, seizing the opportunity to be lazy. He approached the old man.

"Hey, old man, this isn't the place for you. It's not good if you get injured here," Sakuragi said, placing his hands on the old man's arms and guiding him towards the exit.

The senior team members watched with a mix of shock and indignation, unable to intervene due to Sakuragi's reputation.

Unaware of the brewing tension, Sakuragi remained nonchalant. However, in the next moment, a powerful fist struck him on the head.

"Bastard, let go of him!" Akagi's face turned red like a steam engine, his anger evident.

He was furious at Sakuragi's disrespectful behavior towards the old man.

"Ugh!" Sakuragi groaned in pain, falling to the ground and clutching his injured head, muttering,

'Damn gorilla' under his breath.

Witnessing the escalating confrontation, Kogure quickly approached Sakuragi and explained the old man's identity.

Once the tension subsided, Akagi rushed to the old man, offering a sincere apology.

"Coach Anzai, I'm sorry," Akagi apologized, bowing respectfully.

"Forgive his ignorance," the white-haired old man, Coach Anzai, smiled.

"Heh, heh, heh! Akagi, don't worry. This year's freshmen are full of energy," Coach Anzai reassured, pleased with the team's spirit.

Long Yan observed the scene from the sidelines, recognizing the renowned Coach Anzai, known as the White-Haired Devil, who now coached the Shohoku basketball team.

"Now, gather!" Akagi's powerful voice boomed through the basketball arena.

Everyone quickly formed two rows, greeting Coach Anzai with a resounding,

"Coach Anzai!"

"Yo ho ho, good, good. I see many new faces this year," Coach Anzai said, scanning the assembled players.

When his gaze fell upon Long Yan, he furrowed his brow, sensing a familiar fighting spirit in the young man's eyes.

After a week, Coach Anzai would select three freshmen who met his expectations.

The first was the energetic Sakuragi Hanamichi, the second was Rukawa Kaede, known as the Rookie King, and the third was the unassuming Long Yan.

"I have an announcement to make," Coach Anzai continued.

"In one week's time, we will have a practice match against Ryonan High School in Kanagawa Prefecture."

Hearing the mention of Ryonan High School, Kogure and the other second-year team members couldn't help but show seriousness, as if they were being enveloped by a daunting aura.

Ryonan High School had reached the top four in the county competition last year, and their strength was not to be underestimated.

Their ace player, Sendoh, had led them to a convincing victory against Shohoku, leaving a bitter taste in the players' mouths.

With bowed heads, they felt the weight of their previous defeat, knowing that it was not solely Akagi's responsibility to carry the team.

"Alright, that's all I have to say," Coach Anzai concluded.

"Now that all the members have arrived, let's have a scrimmage between the first-year freshmen and the senior students. I want to see the first-year's strength," Coach Anzai said with a smile, eager to gauge the abilities of the new recruits.

"Good!" Akagi acknowledged Coach Anzai's arrangement and began assigning the participants.

Long Yan stepped forward without hesitation. With the skills bestowed upon him, he was eager to join the game and put his newfound abilities to the test.

"Long Yan? Is your body okay?" Akagi asked, noticing Long Yan's eagerness.

"Yes, I'm fine now," Long Yan replied truthfully.

Having observed Long Yan's dribbling practice, Akagi was curious to witness his overall skill level.

He applauded Long Yan's request, granting him the opportunity to play.

Upon hearing that Long Yan could play, Sakuragi Hanamichi, unable to contain himself, exclaimed, "Gorilla, if Long Yan, a beginner, can play, then it's only natural for a genius like me to play too!"

"Rukawa Kaede, don't go on. Let's see how this genius behaves."

Sakuragi muttered under his breath, strutting towards the center of the court with an air of arrogance.

However, before he could take even two steps, a pair of large hands grabbed the back of his collar, clutching him like a chicken.

"You better go back and practice the basics properly," Akagi said with a stern expression, his voice devoid of emotion.

Rukawa Kaede, showing no reaction, chose to ignore Sakuragi's comment,

'Idiot!'

Having witnessed Sakuragi's lack of skill, Akagi believed it would only add chaos to the game if Sakuragi played at that moment.

Sakuragi approached Ayako, sulking in frustration, and shot an annoyed glance at Rukawa Kaede.

Ignoring Sakuragi's antics, Akagi addressed the assembled players, "Personnel from both sides, get ready!"